Rapid grocery delivery service, Ocado Zoom, has launched a trial of electric assisted vehicles (EAV) from its hub in Acton, west London.
The Ocado Retail-owned business is testing out electric refrigerated vans, refrigerated electric assisted vehicles, and pedal-powered cargo bikes which can travel up to 40 miles thanks to new refrigeration capabilities.
The key reason for using the vehicles is because they can deliver more orders per trip taken. Ocado Zoom also said more drop-offs during the same journey results in a more efficient delivery service and fewer vehicles on the roads.
According to the company, every delivery made in these new vehicles is “zero-emitting” and replaces the need for the use of a petrol van, car or moped. The trial will run until 10 February.
Ocado Zoom offers shoppers in London a range of 10,000 products, including fresh food, baked goods, frozen items, baby necessities, and household items. Consumers can then choose to receive their order as soon as possible, or later the same day.
The business said its fastest order on record is eight minutes, and it has an average delivery time of 40 minutes. Ocado Zoom shoppers must spend at least £15, and delivery typically costs £2.99.
George Dean, head of Ocado Zoom, remarked: “We’re really excited to see a new generation of vehicles out on the road.
“We’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint and being the best neighbour we can, whilst delivering groceries to our customers as fast as possible. This trial is an important step in what I hope will be a rapid expansion of our non-emitting fleet.”
As part of Ocado Retail’s expansion plans, Ocado Zoom is set to open several more sites around London by 2025, with the aim of bringing its within-one-hour grocery delivery service to more customers across the capital.
Ocado’s core grocery business is also expected to introduce more electric vehicle for delivery in 2021, as part of its wider environmental improvement targets.
Read more about electric vehicles in retail on Green Retail World
[Image credit: Ocado Retail]
